A women-led Africa would have Ethiopian President, Namibian PM

There is only one African woman as at November 2018 serving in the capacity of president. She is Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde.

In another sole woman political slot on the continent, the only female Prime Minister is Namibia’s Saara Kuugongelwa.

Africa is NOT a country and that is a point that most social media users have drummed home when western media reports or especially entertainers announce that they are going to Africa.

But to celebrate two women who are all but shining lights at the top political levels of governance, let’s say Africa were a country governed by women. Her president will be Ethiopian and her Prime Minister, Namibian.

Who is Africa’s woman president Sahle-Work Zewde?

She was nominated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and approved by lawmakers in November to become president – the first womn occupant of the largely ceremonial role.

At the time of her appointment, Zewde was serving as an official of the United Nations at the African Union. She had just left the UN offices in Nairobi as its head.

She boasts a long record of service in the diplomatic arena. At the time of her appointment she was PM Abiy’s topmost female collaborator, he had only a week before appointed 10 women into a gender-par cabinet to much praise.